Buying Advice Kubota 2920

[Al Mac]

I am looking for info and sizing for a new tractor.

As the MF1020 Hydro works well I am running a little short on HP in heavy going. I cut 8 acres of grass and in the spring growing season the 1020 is working hard. Also in the winter I have 14,000 sq feet of snow to blow (over 500 foot drive and parking area). Here in the east side of Canada we get lots of snow. The 1020 has been keeping up for 10 years now but as I was at the dealer (getting parts) I was looking at the new Kubota's. I know that was my first mistake.

The owner/sales priced up a 2920 he has with a loader and would put turf tires on it, MMM -60", and 6 foot puma blower. I never had a loader and would think it would be handy.

Question, are these good units, would this be a good size, should I be looking at a another size for the best bang for the buck.

Al

 

[Paystar]

Depends how fast you want to get done. I have a B2620 and it does everything I could ask. I have done dirt work I never believed that little tractor would pull off. I also live in snow country (northern Ontario) and my 51" rear Kubota blower is awesome.
Yes a bigger cabbed tractor would be sweet....but not for my mowing. I wouldn't want anything heavier than a B series on my lawn (and I'm all hardpack and sandy soil.)
They are very well built and reliable tractors and very easy to service.

If you didn't have to make any turns or go around lots of obstacles, a bigger tractor may be ok to mow with. My friend mows with a Massey 1635 cab and it is fine, but like I say, my B will make marks with all the maneuvering I have to do.

Another big selling point of the B2920 is no DPF muffler. Buy it while you still can find one.

 

[Al Mac]

Tks for the info. I never thought about the DPF part of these units just thought it was for road rigs. It would be good to get one before that is on them.

So with any good luck and a hard bottom check I will own this unit. With me if ideas don't go away after several months. Then I just go for it.

Al

 

[Tompet]

Your eyes wandered away from the parts counter....expensive gaze!

I had a 2920 and for the work you outlined, I think you would be pretty pleased. Is that a front mount snowblower? You could always go to the larger B3200 but then you would have a ground riding MMM and not a suspended deck MMM like on the 2920 and a little more money.
The new tier 4 engines for the latest models, 2650 and 3350 will be even more money. But I read these models now have a floating deck and some other very nice features. The larger B's have 72" decks available if that is a concern cutting the 8 acres.

You could always go to dealer and price out a 3200 and either the new 2650 or 3350 (without cabs) to see the difference.
Or for immediate info gratification, go to Kubota's website and use the build it now feature and build the 2920, 3200, and 2650/3350 the same way (turfs, loader, MMM, blower, etc.). Write down the totals. You will have a msrp for each and see the proportional difference in pricing and a baseline for comparison.

I looked up your Massey and it looks to be a similar size tractor frame wise, though with less hp like you stated. How underpowered does the massey seem when mowing? Is it due to frequency or type of conditions incurred when mowing?

Having said all of that, I do not think you will be underpowered with the 2920.

The 2920 has a dual speed rear pto. Pretty much a bulletproof tractor.

You will love having a loader....more than a little handy!

 

[tractchores]

I love my b2920 and have found it has plenty of power. The mowing and snow should be a perfect use providing you size the implements right. I also use the BH and FEL a lot, the only place I miss more power / size is in moving large boulders, but no small tractor is going to do that we'll.

 

[Al Mac]

It gets expensive when the parts people are busy and sales people are looking to chat to someone.

I did check on the 2650 and the 3350 also. The larger deck would be nice but I am using a 60 inch now and the 72 inch would be a tight fit in some areas (gates).
The blower is on the 3 point hitch that will let me use the loader for that bucket snow. The dealer quoted me on a Pronovost (Quebec made)72 inch blower. Those that I have asked say the Pronovost is a better blower that the Kubota ones. I don`t have any personal knowledge about either one.
It is a expensive orange unit. I guess the midlife sports car will be Orange with turf tires and fun to play with.

The 1020 works will for almost all the work. It is those heavy snow days that I am working it hard and in the spring cutting grass for those first 4 cuttings where it is growing fast and thick.

Tks for making me think as I will need work lights for the blower. I missed that.

Al

 

[buck boost]

I have a B2920 and I have almost 200 hours on it. It is a fantastic machine. The loader is nicely sized for the tractor, PLENTY of HP for the 5' MMM even in wet/heavy grass, plenty of power for the 4' rotary cutter. I don't have a snow blower, so I can't comment there. I do have the kubota front snow blade, (hydro lift and angle) and that works very well. 4wd and power steering is also excellent.

IMHO it is just the right size. Nimble enough for the MMM, enough PTO HP for 3pt attachments, enough weight to utilize the loader and 3pt plow.

Just got the hoe.

ETA: I never thought such small loader would be so useful. I have a loader on the M7040, and the ford 4500, but the 2920 almost get used exclusively now.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I am like Buck Boost, my go to tractor is my B26 (same frame size as the Bxxxx series). It is very nimble and much easier to see what I am doing with the FEL compared to my LS P7010C with cab and I can put the B26 in spots that I cant even get the P7010 FEL in.

 

[Al Mac]

Well you have said it all. Not anything about the 2920 or the others in the series that was negative.

So in about a week I will have a new 2920 to play with as I call the dealer and told them to get it ready.

Thank you for all your comments on the unit. I did miss the work light for the rear blower ( came up in one post) and that will be installed. If anyone thinks of any other things that should be addressed for the check drops. please let me know.

As a new member (a little green) this has been great to have the peoples comments and to here that knowledge from being hands on.
Thank You
Al

 

[buck boost]

Congrats! I think you will be very pleased with your decision. It surprising how much work can be done with one of these "little" tractors. And with such a small amount a fuel.

If you are going to be doing loader work any near the max rated load of the loader, (from the hip I think its right around 800 lbs) you will NEED REAR ballast. The kubota dealer probably stocks a three point hitch weight box. Or you could use a heavy implement like your snow blower, tiller ect.

I'm not sure what your primary use will be, but you may want to consider having your rear tires filled. I bought mine with 26 hours on used, and the original owner didn't say anything having fluid in the rears. Long story long, (lol) I went to pull the rears off for the backhoe installation, and holy toledeo. I didn't realize that a loaded rear tire/rim/rimgaurd weighs in over 300 lbs per side. For loader work, and any ground engaging activity, the loaded tires are nice. And you will probably still more rear ballast than just loaded rears. Even for finish mowing, I'm glad mine are filled.

Consider having your dealer fix you up with all the filters/fluid that it takes to do a 50 hour service (assuming you are going to do it yourself). Maybe the dealer might cut you a little break on the price of stuff also. I would highly recommend going with Super UDT 2 hydraluic/trans fluid. It gets really cold up by you and that fluid should give you the best cold weather performance out of your hydro trans in the frigid temps. It is more money than the other kubota fluids, but worth it, for its cold weather performance and quieter hydro.

Just one other note, the stock dynamo (alternator like) charging system is only rated I think is 14 amps. So if you foresee a large electrical or lighting load on the tractor kubota sells a high amp alternator kit.

 

[Paystar]

Worklights front and rear, and the 40A alternator upgrade are all I can think of. And blockheater.

I didn't load my tires. My Land Pride 60" box blade is all the ballast I need for the fel or lifting logs.

 

[Al Mac]

I am not planing to do much heavy loader work and will use the blower if needed.
While I never had the tires loaded on the 1020. I don't know what to do with that. It is coming unloaded so I will try that and see if I have issues. I can always load them later.
I did most of the work on the 1020 and expect to do the work on this one also. the first service is at 50 hours. What is the service hours after that. I do like to be a little early on these things.

Tks for bringing up the alternator issue. I expect the it could be a issue as I do like to see where I am going. I was planing to put some LED lights on it when I know the dark areas. The LED's should help the load on the alternator but 14 amps is not much.

Where is a good placement of lighting on these units.

Al

 

[s219]

You will want the rear tires filled on the B2920 to counteract the weight of the front loader, otherwise it will be really loose in the tail. If primarily for mowing without the loader attached, then you can skip filling tires and plan on getting a ballast box that you attach when using the loader.

In general, I have found rear ballast is needed to offset the weight of the front loader for basic stability, then additional ballast to offset the weight of what's carried in the front loader. So plan accordingly. I always keep my loader on, so I have filled tires, and then I hitch up my box blade to offset weight of anything heavy I lift with the loader.

 

[Al Mac]

As I have never had a loader before I don't know if loaded tires will help if the loader is not used enough. Now that could change when I start using it and pushing the limits but I don't see that happening yet.
What would be a good counter balance on the 3 point hitch for this size unit. I will have the blower in the winter and could use it in the fall and spring but in the summer a easy rear weight would be nice if needed.

Al

 

[tractchores]

You definitely will want to get the rears loaded. Even without using much capacity on the loader you will have to be careful. Most dealers load the rears if there's a FEL. I actually have mine loaded and use a rear implement or the BH for weight when doing loader work (with just loaded rears you can lift them up with the loader easily). The loaded tires also do wonders for stability, the load is close to the ground and on the axle VS a weight box, which is good - but doesn't do as much for lowering the center of gravity. I believe loading is pretty cheap as well.

 

[Al Mac]

Loaded tires is something I will have to look into with the dealer. If the rears are loaded should they have tubes so the rims don't rust from the inside out or is tubes a automatic install when they are loaded.
I could be over thinking this installing tubes with loaded tires idea as they still use calcium/ water (I think) which would rust the rims out over time.

Al

 

[buck boost]

Hey Al, calcium chloride/water mix isn't the standard anymore. This is the stuff the dealer most likely uses:
Rim Guard - Liquid Tire Ballast

All four corners of my 2920 are tubeless.

If I were to use CC/water mix, it would only be inside a tube!

 

[tractchores]

Yup, no tubes needed. Rimguard won't rust the rims and I believe is a bit denser (heavier) than water. Should you somehow puncture a tire its non toxic and has good freeze tolerance.

 

[Al Mac]

Well I checked today with the dealer and I can have the tires loaded but the dealer said loaded tires and with the soft ground here it will mark the yard. The unloaded tires on the 1020 will put small marks in the spring. When he sells a FEL on a compact he includes the ballast box with it.
I will try the box and see if I like this idea if not loaded it will be.
Al

 

[buck boost]

That sounds like a good approach. Unloaded tires may work out for you. Try it! Report back.